The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 3

Our Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations over the next four to six Gameweeks, have been updated throughout the week. Sunderland and Newcastle are the main movers here as both prepare for some kind schedules, while at the other end of the scale, Villa’s upcoming fixtures and Palace’s shake-up since the departure of Tony Pulis ensures both clubs slide in our estimations.

On the Up

Our faith in Sunderland’s assets takes a turn for the better this week. Last Sunday’s home draw with United sets the Black Cats up nicely ahead of a run which sees them travel to promoted pair QPR and Burnley and play host to Swansea and Stoke in the next five. Vito Mannone looks to have nailed down the number one spot again, while the raiding runs of Patrick van Aanholt down the left have already served up an assist – you can snap up either for just 4.5.

In midfield, Seb Larsson has staked a claim for consideration in the sub 6.0 bracket. The Swede sits sixth in the midfield standings after a goal, assist and two bonus points and comes in at just 5.6, while Steven Fletcher, at 5.5, seems assured of starts as the lone forward if he can steer clear of injury.

Elsewhere in the north east, Tim Krul offers a fire-and-forget option between the posts as Newcastle host Palace, Hull and Leicester in the next five, though Paul Dummett comes in cheaper at 4.0 and seems to have nailed down the left-back berth, with Davide Santon out until November. Remy Cabella is our Magpies midfielder of choice, though we have one eye on Siem de Jong, who could be poised for a start against the Eagles.

Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet and Dejan Lovren edge tentatively up the rankings with improved fixtures to come. Granted, this week’s trip to Tottenham hardly bodes well for a shut-out, but beyond that, the Merseysiders’ have four home matches (AVL, EVE, WBA, HUL) allied with trips to West Ham and QPR in the subsequent six to boost their points potential at both ends of the pitch. Expect a further climb next week.

Spurs pair Jan Vertonghen and Nacer Chadli also come into contention after an impressive start under Mauricio Pochettino. The former looks the most secure route into a defence with back-to-back shut-outs so far, with today’s arrival of Federico Fazio placing further question marks over Eric Dier’s security of starts. Christian Eriksen still remains our Spurs midfielder of choice but Chadli’s brace against QPR, allied with a 6.0 cost compared to the Dane’s 8.0, offers a real alternative in the mid-price bracket.

Stevan Jovetic’s brace against Liverpool looks set to keep him in the first XI for the visit of Stoke, though Sergio Aguero would be placed higher here if we were convinced of his start against the Potters. Nonetheless, as his displays off the bench have shown, the Argentine needs little time to find the net. Expect Aguero to threaten top spot very soon.

Dropping Down

Palace and United stumble a little, though both clubs have the fixtures to pull through. The arrival of Neil Warnock places question marks over the Eagles’ ability to chalk up the clean sheets in a manner similar to last season under Tony Pulis, with Julian Speroni and Joel Ward’s stock on the decline as a result. Meanwhile, in midfield, Warnock’s very public spat with Jason Puncheon means that the jury’s very much out on whether the new manager’s arrival will benefit last season’s Fantasy favourite and he’s excluded from our thinking right now.

The midweek humbling by MK Dons underlines Louis van Gaal’s problems – without a clean sheet in any of their first two league encounters, David de Gea and Phil Jones have done little to justify their 5.5 price tags. The fixtures remain in their favour, however, with the three promoted sides to follow next: a factor which keeps the defensive pair in our Watchlist reckoning.

Villa’s Alan Hutton also slips down the rankings ahead of a very testing run of fixtures. Paul Lambert’s side have a favourable home encounter with Hull this weekend but, following that, face each of last season’s top five in the subsequent five Gameweeks – those looking for a 4.0 defender look best served by Dummett over the next few Gameweeks.

Chelsea’s Diego Costa had climbed to the summit of the forwards standings prior to last night’s reports of a potential hamstring injury. The club’s confirmation that he has a “minor problem” means he drops for now, then, until Jose Mourinho’s Friday press conference clarifies the matter.

Swansea’s Wilfried Bony also drops down in the forward rankings. Subbed off just after the hour mark last weekend, he’s looking under increased competition from Bafetimbi Gomis, who netted in the midweek cup win over Rotherham. Garry Monk has, however, confirmed he will occasionally play with a front two this term, suggesting both players will still fit into his plans.